ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
FINAL
REVISED
state
archives building.
(NOW: social assistance programs; appropriations)
Appropriates, from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant in FY 2001-2002 to the Department of Economic Security (DES), $4 million for out-of-school programs and $398,000 for the Hopi TANF program. Reduces and restricts the Wheels to Work program and adds an annual audit by the Auditor General for the Arizona Works pilot program.
The Arizona Works program, a welfare employment pilot program operated by a private contractor, was established in 1997. One requirement is that the contractor is to offer at least a ten percent savings in administrative cost. The contract was awarded to Maximus in 1999. Pilot offices in eastern Maricopa County replace the DES Empower program. Mohave County was selected as the second pilot site, which is required to be in a rural area. An independent evaluator is to compare the Arizona Works and the DES Empower programs at the end of the four-year pilot period. If continuation of Arizona Works is recommended, the program will expand statewide with legislative approval. The bill adds an annual audit by the Auditor General, with the audit report to be submitted to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Governor and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC).
DES contracts with Goodwill Industries to administer the Wheels to Work program. Taxpayers may receive a tax credit for donating a vehicle to the program, which Goodwill Industries leases to a low income individual for $20 per month. Goodwill Industries is responsible for vehicle insurance, maintenance and repairs during the lease period. The participant receives title to the vehicle at the end of the lease period. The program operates statewide from six sites and is currently funded at $2 million per fiscal year. One hundred eighty-six individuals received program vehicles in FY 1999-2000. The bill reduces the lease time from 12 to six months, places certain restrictions on participants and requires DES to explore all other transportation options before referring a person to the program.
According to the National Center for Juvenile Justice, peak hours of violent crime are 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. These hours are linked to teen sexual activity, cigarette smoking, alcohol and other drug use and juvenile victims of crime. The National Academy of Sciences reported in 2000 that older adolescents have not been engaged in after-school programs and are most in need of guidance, positive adult mentors and role models. The bill appropriates $4 million from the TANF block grant in FY 2001-2002 to DES to contract with community providers to establish and operate out-of-school programs for youth ages 11 through 16. Total DES administrative and evaluation costs are limited to three percent of the appropriation, and the appropriation is exempt from lapsing until July 1, 2004, by which time the programs are to be self-sustaining.
The number of children in kinship foster care has grown dramatically during the past decade. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), almost one-third of all children in foster care currently live with relatives. Grandparents on a fixed income are sometimes not financially able to care for their grandchildren without government assistance. The current TANF cash assistance benefit for one child residing with a relative is $204 per month. The bill appropriates $500,000 from the TANF block grant in each of FY 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 to increase TANF cash assistance for a kinship foster care parent who is the child’s grandparent, to no more than $250 per month per child.
DHHS approved the Hopi TANF plan in November 2000. Beginning in FFY 2001-2002, tribes will be able to apply directly to the federal government for child support enforcement funding as well as direct TANF funding. Tribes receive enhanced child support funding of 90 percent the first year and 80 percent thereafter. The Hopi Tribe consulted with DES, other tribes and neighboring counties in developing a coordinated child support and TANF plan for coordination of resources. The bill appropriates $212,000 from the state general fund and $398,000 from the TANF block grant in FY 2001-2002 to DES for distribution to the Hopi Tribe for start-up and operational costs for its office of child support and TANF programs.
In her veto message, the Governor exercised her authority to veto two appropriations because of fiscal concerns. They are the $212,000 state general fund appropriation for the Hopi office of child support and $500,000 in each of FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 to increase TANF cash assistance payments for grandparents.
1. Requires the Auditor General to perform annual audits of the Arizona Works pilot program beginning January 1, 2002.
2. Requires the Auditor General to submit annual audit reports to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Governor and JLBC by December 31 of each year.
3. Reduces the time frame of the Wheels to Work program from 12 to six months.
4. Requires DES to explore all other transportation options before referring a person to the program.
5. Restricts program eligibility to Arizona residents. Requires a participant to return the vehicle if the participant does not maintain Arizona residency.
6. Prohibits the program from granting title to a vehicle unless the participant has complied with terms of the lease.
7. Allows the private entity to purchase vehicles for program use, requires the private entity to assume all responsibility for vehicles purchased for program use and excludes the private entity from the tax credit for vehicles donated to the program.
8. Appropriates $398,000 from the TANF block grant in FY 2001-2002 to DES for distribution to the Hopi Tribe for start-up and operational costs of its tribal TANF program.
9. Extends the availability of the appropriations to FY 2001-2002 and 2002-2003.
10. Specifies that federal funding beyond FY 2002-2003 will come directly from the Hopi Tribe.
11. Appropriates $4 million from the TANF block grant in FY 2001-2002 to DES for contracts with providers to establish and operate out-of-school programs for youths ages 11 through 16.
DES Requirements
12. Requires DES to give preference for providers in communities with high rates of teen pregnancy, violence, delinquency and participation in free or reduced price lunch programs.
13. Requires DES to contract in at lease one urban and one rural community.
14. Requires DES to contract for an annual program evaluation.
15. Allows DES to use up to three percent for administrative costs and program evaluation.
Provider Requirements
16. Requires providers to include in proposals a basis for determining their program activities are innovative and incorporate best practices.
17. Requires providers to include in proposals a plan for programs to be self-sustaining within three years.
18. Requires providers to offer programs at no or minimal cost to the youths.
19. Requires providers to collaborate with parents, schools, local business, child care programs, public and private agencies and other concerned citizens to maximize the impact of the programs.
20. Requires providers to identify youths who have received a negative pregnancy test or who have siblings who are pregnant youths and conduct outreach activities to the identified youths.
21. Requires providers to coordinate with agencies serving younger children to provide activities for sibling of youths participating in programs.
22. Requires providers to transport youths between program sites, home and school.
23. Requires providers to adequately train staff and volunteers.
24. Restricts providers from providing activities to groups of more than 30 youths and restricts adult group leaders from supervising more than 13 youths.
25. Allows providers to permit a youth to work with younger children under adult supervision and specifies that the youth is not an adult leader.
Program Requirements
26. Requires a program to provide a diverse choice of activities from a specific list.
27. Requires a program to build on strengths of individuals and communities.
28. Requires a program to use youths as a resource to strengthen and build communities.
29. Requires a program to provide nutritious snacks.
30. Requires a program to be culturally appropriate.
31. Requires a program to be in a structured, safe and supervised environment.
32. Allows a program to provide incentives for youth participation.
Evaluation Requirements
33. Requires the evaluator to develop measurement instruments with providers.
34. Requires the evaluator to collect specified information on participating youths.
35. Requires the evaluator to submit an annual report to DES.
Other
36. Terminates contracts for out-of-school programs on July 1, 2004 or earlier.
37. Repeals the out-of-school programs on January 1, 2005.
38. Contains definitions.
39. Provides for a general effective date.
Strike-everything amendment appropriates $4 million in FY 2001-2002 for out-of-school programs and $1 million in each of FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 for kinship foster care grandparents was adopted.
1. Appropriates $212,000 from the state general fund and $398,000 from the TANF block grant in FY 2001-2002 to DES for distribution to the Hopi Tribe for start-up and operational costs for the Hopi child support and TANF programs.
2. Reduces the appropriations for kinship foster care from $1 million to $500,000 in each of the two fiscal years.
3. Reduces and places restrictions on the Wheels to Work program.
4. Adds an annual audit by the Auditor General of the Arizona Works program.
Line Item Veto
Vetoed the $212,000 state general fund appropriation for the Hopi office of child support and $500,000 in each of FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 to increase TANF cash assistance payments for grandparents.
GOV 3/26/01 DP 4-0-2-0 Final Read 4/30/01 31-23-6-0
APPROP 4/3/01 DPA/SE 10-0-2-0
3rd Read 4/27/01 21-8-1-0
Signed by Governor (LIV) 5/7/01
Chapter 345
Prepared by Senate Staff
May 31, 2001